Monday news: Froch v Bute; Towers; Murray; Maloney; Williams; Munroe

THE journey to Carl Froch and Lucian Bute’s clash for the latter’s IBF super-middleweight title began in earnest today with a press call at the venue, the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham.

Froch will fight in the UK for the first time since his unconvincing split decision victory against Andre Dirrell in the Super Six, in October 2009.

Since that bout, Froch has collected plenty of air miles en route to clashes against highly-ranked Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham, Glen Johnson and, in the Super Six final, Andre Ward.

“Bute has not often fought out of his hometown so to put his title on the line in my backyard he’s either very confident or very stupid – I think he’s very confident and he’s the champion, so why not be confident,” said Froch (34-2), who could become a three-time world champion with victory in the May 26 contest.

Bute did not take part in the Super Six, preferring instead to clock up title defences in his adopted home country of Canada. To take the bout, he has given up familiar surroundings for a rather more hostile atmosphere at the Capital FM Arena.

“I’ve been criticised for not fighting away from home,” he said. “I remember when Joe Calzaghe fought away from home at the end of his career, he received the respect he deserved for doing that and that’s what I’m looking to do.”

Froch’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, tweeted earlier today that ticket sales had passed the 4,000 mark having been on sale only since 2pm.

Rendall Munroe was unhappy with some of the comments made by upcoming opponent Scott Quigg on Saturday’s War Of The Roses show. The Leicester fighter responded today with: “They don’t realise when they disrespect me I don’t shout off my mouth, I just train harder to hurt them more than I was going to before.” Here’s our story on Munroe v Quigg.